While overall crime in Brooklyn is down nearly 10 percent from the same period last year, the number of auto thefts increased nearly 22 percent.

According to the latest CompStat reports released yesterday by the NYPD, the number of crimes reported in the borough were down compared to the same one-week period last year – 687 major crimes were reported during the period from November 9 through November 15; 764 major crimes were reported in the same one week period last year.

The overall decrease in crime offsets an increase in auto thefts during the past week.  The NYPD reported that 94 vehicles were reported stolen in Brooklyn, compared to 74 during the same one week period last year.  In Brooklyn South, 53 auto thefts were reported, compared to 43 last year; there were 41 reports of Auto Theft in Brooklyn North, compared to 31 last year.

The most notable increases in auto thefts occured in the 63rd (3 last week compared to none during the same period last year), 64th (4 last week, up from 1), 70th (7 last week, up from 4), and 81st (3 last week, up from 1) precincts.

The number of felony assaults increased slightly; 110 such incidents were reported last week compared to 107 during the same one week period last year.

The number of burglary, robbery, and grand larceny (theft) complaints saw double digit decreases.  Burglaries decreased 22.7 percent (133, down from 172), robberies decreased 15.4 percent (143, down from 169), and grand larceny complaints decreased 14.5 percent (196, down from 229).

The number of homicides reported decreased from 2 reported borough-wide during the past week, compared to 4 reported during the same period last year.  The homicides were reported in the 73rd and 79th precincts.

Fewer rapes were reported in Brooklyn North (5, down from 7), however, Brooklyn South reported two more rapes compared to last year (4, up from 2).

Even with the increase in auto thefts, major felony crimes have decreased 12.2 percent overall year-to-date in Brooklyn compared to the first 46 weeks of 2008.

Crime continues to decline in the borough, as last week’s CompStat report released by the NYPD demonstrates.

Three murders were reported in the borough last week, compared to two last year.  Homicides were reported in the 67^th, 73^rd, and 90^th Precincts last week.

The number of homicides for 2009, however, has increased slightly; 180 murders have been reported in Brooklyn this year – 98 in the north end of the borough and 82 in the south end – compared to 177 during the same period last year (98 in the north end, 79 in the south end).

Detectives in Brooklyn North were also kept busy, with five reported rapes last week, compared only two reported rapes in the same period last year.  The reverse was the case in Brooklyn South, where one rape was reported last week, compared to five during the same period last year.

Rapes were reported to detectives in the 67^th, 73^rd, 75^th, 77^th and 79^th Precincts; two rapes were reported in the 75^th.

Overall, rapes were down across the borough, with 286 reported so far this year (157 North; 129 South) compared to 307 last year (167 North; 140 South).

Auto theft reports remained steady, with 70 reported last week, compared to the same number during the same period last year.  Last year, 44 such incidents were investigated in Brooklyn South and 26 in Brooklyn North; this past week, 50 were reported in Brooklyn South, 20 in Brooklyn North.

The NYPD also reported decreases in other major felony reports, including fewer robberies (122 last week, 176 during the same period last year), felony assaults (100 last week, 115 during the same period last year), burglaries (137 last week, 154 during the same period last year), and grand larcenies (178 last week, 206 during the same period last year).

A detailed breakdown of crime statistics by precinct, borough, and city-wide is available at the NYPD web site.